Friday was the deadline for cities and states to apply for the final assembly plant for Boeing's 7E7.

It's not surprising that so many cities want this plant. And it's not surprising to those who work in economic development that so many cities and states are offering Boeing so much to get the plant.

Bernie Koch with the Wichita Area Chamber Of Commerce says, "Every manufacturing job produces anywhere from one to five additional jobs in the community."

Koch says the multiplier affect means the community landing the 7E7 final assembly lands thousands of jobs.

Koch says, "So you've got the spin off, the contractors. You have retailers making more money when you have more people employed at better paying jobs."

That's why the stakes are so high. And it's why more than 40 cities in over 20 states are in the 7E7 sweepstakes. California alone has seven cities vying for the final assembly. Having a deep water port is one of the criteria for the plant. Nevertheless, several inland cities like Pueblo, Colorado and Mesa, Arizona applied for the plant.

What all the cities and states have in common is a desire to be part of Boeing's future.

Boeing Wichita isn't one of the cities contending for the final assembly. That's because the local plant is instead trying to gain a major part of the sub-assembly work on the plane. If Wichita does, it could mean as many jobs, if not more than the final assembly plant.

A decision on the final assembly plant won't be made until later this year.